Definition of adulterousnext
as in extramarital
relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse had an adulterous affair that nearly destroyed his marriage

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adulterous The unapologetically lurid tale of two families locked in an ever-complex cat’s cradle of class resentments and adulterous power plays also swarms with queen bees and jaw-droppingly muscular men that feel straight out of the Real Housewives playbook. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026 As with the true story of the adulterous writers, there’s something at the center of The Disappear that feels cringily solipsistic. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2026 In the months since the incident unfolded at Gillette Stadium, the public — which was quick to discover that Cabot worked as an HR executive under Byron, and that both were married to other people at the time — has been quick to brand the pair as adulterous villains. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 Dec. 2025 The supernatural thriller sees a woman return from death as a vindictive spirit to torment her adulterous husband. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for adulterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adulterous
Adjective
  • Twain and Marie-Anne became close friends, and Twain was shocked to learn that Marie-Anne and Lange had been allegedly carrying on an extramarital affair—losing both her husband and her best friend in one fell swoop.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 July 2026
  • Homer’s hero has extramarital affairs with goddesses Circe and Calypso — the latter of whom traps him and forces him to sleep with her each night for seven years.
    Tom Tapp, Deadline, 27 July 2026
Adjective
  • In addition to peerless pitching, the night was carried by extracurricular activities, as Fox and MLB have embraced the exhibition’s entertainment potential.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 15 July 2026
  • Children who are going to football matches and extracurricular activities, either in Spain or in Gibraltar.
    Suman Naishadham, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Adulterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulterous. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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